Labeling machine with speed adjusting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A labeling machine and input conveyor with a variable speed drive and a control mechanism including a series of container sensors spaced physically along an accumulation table and input conveyor and subject to the degree of accumulation of containers on the table and conveyor to actuate said sensors in a sequence which will regulate the variable speed drive to supply the machine with containers stop which will be actuated to block the admission of containers into the labeling machine when the nearest sensor is relieved of container pressure Under this condition the variable speed drive continues to drive the machine at low speed, thus to finish processing containers already in the machine. The sensors are triggered only by a build-up or accumulation of containers and exert lateral pressure on the sensor switch feeler.

8 Sheets-Sheet l KLAUSDIETER PUSCHING ETA]- LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEEDADJUSTING MECHANISM June 12, 1973- Filed May 6, 1971 5 w m/ Q L ::::::ii:ttm% m 2 Wm; 5$ 56 ER m; a? A m 2 HZ N a? Q ST S 3% N t 24%, A4 MM3,738,891 LABELiNC MAcHINfiwIT H SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed may a,1971 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12, 1973 KLAUS-DIETER PUSCHING ErAL/A/I/E/V70BS deaf/v PArzu/m/L #aarr KQErJU/MEB Arzoewevs Mia Fgq

KLAUS-D|ETER PUSCHING ET AL ,738,891

Jqne 12, 1973 LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed M856, 1971 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1973 KLAUS-DIETER PUSCHING .ET AL3,738,391

LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed May 1971 m x n/mes K4405 9/5758 Pas ffim a ,"I/ low/1. Mu

June 12, 1973 'KLAUS'DIETER PUSCHING ETAL 3,738,891

LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1971 v 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Q 3; Q r\ m 1 3 VJ 3i Wye/v70 s Kums- D E752 Pisa/0M/-//m 5 Mug 5M 24mm;

#0557 Mensa/Mae June 1973 KLAUS-DIETER PUSCHING ET AL 3,738,391

LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1971 aSheets-Sheet 6 @QVQWG l0 #3 O o ,1 3 Q1 3 0 s Q Z x x: 3

June 12, 1973 KLAUS-DIETER PUSCHING ETAL 3,738,391

LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed May 0. 1971 8Sheets-Sheet 7 2 k w 3 N m/a e/vroes K0405 Jys-rae ?0Z5C/////C7 H4445M05 5 P/WJMQHL Haesr KeE/Ucb MEe OOHO O O O O 0 2M, M am A IDEA/E MSJune 12, 1973 KLAUS-DIETER PUSCHING ETYXL 3,738,891

LABELING MACHINE WITH SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed may a, 1971 eSheets-Sheet a m va/vraes MAM-17 E752 Pisa/M6 HA/KS-UMQGEA/ flfZh/AHLH0267 162571577 0152 1am MW, (QM

firroen/eys United States Patent O US. Cl. 156-863 12 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A labeling machine and input conveyor with a variablespeed drive and a control mechanism including a series of containersensors spaced physically along an accumulation table and input conveyorand subject to the degree of accumulation of containers on the table andconveyor to actuate said sensors in a sequence which will regulate thevariable speed drive to supply the machine with containers at a speedappropriate for the degree of container accumulation. The input conveyoris provided with a container stop which will be actuated to block theadmission of containers into the labeling machine when the nearestsensor is relieved of container pressure. Under this condition thevariable speed drive continues to drive the machine at low speed, thusto finish processing containers already in the machine. The sensors aretriggered only by a build-up or accumulation of containers sufiicient tolaterally dislocate the containers and exert lateral pressure on thesensor switch feeler.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention is an improvementon the apparatus shown in assignees copending United States patentapplication Ser. No. 846,077, filed July 30, 1969, now US. Pat. No.3,607,547.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Said copending patent application showspredecessor apparatus which has many advantages and features whichincrease reliability and improve operation. Such apparatus has avariable speed drive, a container stop and sensors at both the input andoutput of the labeling machine, whereby the container stop will beactuated and the machine operated at low speed wherever there is adeficiency of containers at the machine input or a back-up containers atthe machine output. However, the prior apparatus is still subject tofrequent and intermittent speed change, because there is but a singlesensor at the machine input. Accordingly, if there is an irregularsupply of containers thereto, the machine will tend to operateintermittently between high and low speeds in response to the irregularfeed. The frequent speed change and the repeated actuation of thecontainer stop under these conditions tends to increase the risks ofbreakage of glass containers and to increase wear on the machine parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thefrequency of the speeding-up and slowing-down operation of the machineand the frequency of actuation of the container stop is markedlydecreased by assuring that there is a relatively large accumulation ofcontainers at the machine input before the machine will acceptcontainers and before the variable speed drive is shifted to ice itshigh speed range. Accordingly, even if further feed to the machine isthen out off completely the machine will have a sufficient backlog oraccumulation of containers at the input to run for a relatively longperiod of time at high speed before this accumulation is depleted, andthe machine is shifted to low speed operation and the container stopadvanced to container blocking position. The machine will then wait ordwell for a period of time necessary to again accumulate a relativelylarge number of containers before the machine is again switched intohigh speed operation.

The foregoing operation is achieved in the preferred embodiment of theinvention by positioning at the input of the machine a plurality ofsensors which are physically spaced apart for a considerable distance.There is also provided an accumulation table which will hold arelatively large number of containers before all sensors are actuated towithdraw the container stop and shift the variable speed drive into itshigh speed setting. The sensors are desirably responsive only to lateralpressure such as is produced on the feed conveyor by lateral dislocationof the containers under considerable end pressure, and which is producedon the accumulation table by the collection of a large number ofcontainers which are pressed laterally against the sensor switch by thepressure of fresh containers which are fed onto the accumulation tableat an angle to the feeler of the sensor switch. Under these conditionsof build-up or backlong the sensors will be actuated and the controlapparatus triggered to withdraw the container stop from blockingposition and shift the variable speed drive into its high speed range.

The sensors will not be acutated simply by the passage of an occasionalcontainer or group of containers, because such a condition Will produceno lateral pressure on the sensor feeler. It is only when theaccumulation of containers is so great that the pressure of the movingconveyor or table will press the containers hard enough together tocause lateral dislocation or movement of the containers and consequentactuation of the sensors.

In a relatively simple embodiment of the invention, two sensors arepositioned in longitudinally spaced relationship at the input of themachine and both of these sensors will respond only to theaforedescribed build-up or accumulation of containers, whereupon thecontainer stop will be withdrawn from blocking position and the variablespeed drive will be shifted into high speed range.

In other embodiments of the invention, three or four such sensors arelocated along a conveyor and/or accumulation table. Each sensor is soarranged in the control mechanism as to shift the variable speed driveinto its own specific speed range. In a specific embodiment of thisarrangement, four sensors are thus arranged and the variable speed drivehas four dilferent speeds, one for each sensor. Accordingly, when allfour sensors are actuated, thus indicating a large accumulation ofcontainers, the machine will operate at full speed. When only the lastthree sensors are actuated, the variable speed drive will be shifted toan intermediate speed. When only the last two sensors are actuated, thedrive will be operated at a lower intermediate speed, and when only thelast sensor is actuated the machine will be operated at a still lowerintermediate speed. When even this last sensor is deactuated the machinewill idle at low speed, and the container stop will advance to containerblocking position.

By this arrangement the speed is graduated according to supplyconditions in the expectation that before all of the accumulatedcontainers are processed, a fresh supply of containers will arrive, thusto rebuild the accumulation of containers and keep the machine operatingcontinuously and at a speed which is appropriate for the supplyconditions.

A further advantage of the aforedescribed embodiment is that thecontainer stop will be advanced to container blocking position when themachine is operating at a relatively low speed thus to avoid suddenstops of the containers with possible bottle shock, breakage or falls.

In some embodiments the control apparatus is integrated with priorcontrol devices which ordinarily function to prevent label feed to aparticular pallet of a label applying turret when because of someinadequacy of container supply, a container is not fed into the machinein time with said pallet. Inasmuch as full automatic operation ofmachines equipped with the control apparatus of the present inventioninsures a continuous supply of containers, it is an optional feature ofthe present invention to automatically withdraw and deactivate suchprior control devices, thus to avoid unnecessary operation thereof.

The present invention is also characterized by use of lateral pressureresponsive sensors which have the advantage that under normal continuousoperation the containers do not slide along the sensor feelers, thefeelers being completely withdrawn or laterally offset from the pathfollowed by the containers. Hence there is no friction between thecontainers and the feelers, thus reducing wear on the feelers andprolonging their life. Contact between the containers and the sensorfeelers occurs only during a build-up of containers which results inlateral pressure of the containers on the feelers.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a labelingmachine embodying control apparatus of the present invention, in whichthere are two sensors at the input of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic penumatic and electrical diagram for the controlmechanism of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a modified schematic penumatic and electrical diagram of thecontrol device according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified labeling machineembodying control apparatus of the present invention, in which there arefour sensors at the machine infeed.

FIG. 5 is a symbolic wiring and pneumatic diagram of the labelingmachine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary view of the relationbetween the control apparatus of the present invention and a priorcontrol device adjacent the infeed worm of the labeling machine of FIG.4.

FIGS. 7-14, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating differentconditions of machine operation for the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the lateral pressureresponsive sensors utilized in the present invention are not actuated bythe occasional passage of a container.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammaitc view illustrating how the lateral pressureresponsive sensors of the present invention are not acutated by a solidcolumn of containers.

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the conditions of build-upand lateral dislocation of containers which will actuate the lateralpressure responsive sensors of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereof isdetailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemphfy theinvention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scopeof the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Like parts in the several views may be given the same referencecharacters.

The labeling machine 1 of FIG. 1 is generally of the same type shown inaforementioned copending US. application Ser. No. 846,077, aforesaid.It, and input conveyor 9, is operated by an electric motor 2 whichdrives a reduction gear 6 through a variable speed drive mechanismincluding variable width pulleys 3 and 5 and an interconnecting V-belt4. The setting of the variable speed drive is adjusted by the pneumaticor like fluid operated cylinder 22 by which the spacing of the variableWidth pulley 3 is adjusted.

The containers 50, typically glass bottles, are fed laterally toward theconveyor 9 by a multi-lane collector or accumulation conveyor table 7.The containers 50 are retained on the table 7 by a side rail 70 whichmay take the form of a succession of upright rollers. The containers 50move on the table 7 in the direction of arrow 51 and accumulate againstan oblique rail 52 which also may take the form of a succession ofupright rollers.

Machine input conveyor 9 is provided with a side rail 8 which guides thecontainers into a separating worm 10 which is provided at the entranceto machine 1 to separate and time the feed of the containers 50 withrespect to labeling elements of the machine :1. Container stop 15 isprovided, just in advance of the worm 10, to control admission ofcontainers into the machine. Stop 15 can take any form, such as a starwheel. As illustrated herein, it comprises a stop finger 53 actuated bya fluid cylinder 54 which has an internal spring 55 by which its piston56 is normally retracted to a position where the stop finger 53 iswithdrawn from the path of container flow on the conveyor 9.

Two input sensors 11 and 12 are provided at the machine input. Sensor 11is located along rail 52 on the collector conveyor table 7 and sensor 12is located on the conveyor 9, just in advance of the container stop 15.As in the prior application Ser. No. 846,077, there is also a containersensor 13 at the output of the machine.

The electrical and pneumatic connections by which the parts justdescribed are connected in circuit are shown in FIG. 2. In the disclosedembodiments the operators are actuated pneumatically. However, theycould be operated electrically or hydraulically.

A compressed air source 17 feeds a service unit 18. Air for the cylinder22 which controls the variable speed drive is metered through a pressurereducing valve 19, an air actuated valve 20 and speed regulating valves21, 23. Actuating cylinder 54 for the container stop 15 is also suppliedfrom the same air source 117, but through a manually operated controlvalve 16.

Control valve 16 is arranged for selective positioning in any one ofthree different operating modes of the machine. The letters F, H and Aindicate its different positions. In position H (manual operation) thesupply of compressed air for the container stop operating cylinder 54 isshut off, and air in cylinder 54 is vented to atmosphere through doublecheck valve 25, and control valve 24 (in either its E or 0 positions).Accordingly, the spring 55 within the cylinder 54 will move thecontainer stop 53 to its withdrawn position. At the same time compressedair from source 17 through service unit 18 and reducing valve 19 passesthrough valve 20 in its 0 position, and thence through a speedregulating valve 21 into the left side of cylinder 22, as shown in FIGS.1 and 2, thus to move the sheaves of pulley 3 toward each other to themaximum speed position of the variable speed drive, as indicated by thelegend max in FIG. 2.

Air is vented from the right side of operating cylinder 22 throughanother speed regulating valve 23 and back through the valve 20 in its 0position to atmosphere. Under these conditions the speed of the variablespeed drlve can be manually adjusted by manually manipulating thepressure reducing valve 19, thus to locate the piston 57 in cylinder 22to a desired setting with respect to its maximum and minimum setting.

Under the foregoing conditions of manual control, actuation of thesensors 11, 12 and 13 have no affect upon the machine operation.

For automatic operation of the machine in accordance with the presentinvention, the valve 16 is moved to its position A, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Assuming that there are no containers at the infeed of themachine, and that valve 24 is in its position 0, the container stop willbe advanced by cylinder 54 to its container blocking position. The airpath to cylinder 54 includes double check valve 25 and speed regulatingvalve 26. Concurrently, valve 20 will be energized by air through tripline 60 to its E position, as shown in FIG. 2. Air cylinder 69 pushesthe valve 20 to its 0 position against the bias of a return spring 74.Accordingly, valve 20 will pass compressed air through the pressureregulating valve 23 and into the air cylinder 22 in a direction to movethe piston 57 to the minimum setting of the variable speed drive, asindicated by the legend min in FIG. 2, and thus operate the machine atits lowest speed.

As containers are fed to the machine and accumulate against thecontainer stop blocking finger 53 and back-up on the conveyor 9 and ontothe accumulation conveyor table 7, a condition will ultimately bereached in which the accumulation is sufficient to actuate sensor switch12. This will have no immediate affect upon the control circuit, becausesensor switch 11 will still be open. However, as soon as the build-up ofcontainers has developed to a level Where there are sufiicientcontainers on the conveyor table 7 to also actuate sensor switch 11, acircuit will be completed to the relay 27 (FIG. 2) and hence close thecontacts 61, 62 and complete a circuit through contact 62 to theelectromagnetically operated valve 24 and move it to its E position. Atthe same time, a holding circuit on the relay 27 is established throughthe now closed contact 61 which bridges the sensor switch 11.

With valve 24 in its E position, the flow of compressed air to containerstop cylinder 54 and trip line 60 is cut 0E and pressurized air in thecylinder 54 will bleed out through the double return valve 25 andthrough valve 24 to atmosphere. The spring 55 in cylinder 54 will thenretract piston 56 and withdraw stop finger 53 from its containerblocking position and thus permit the conveyor 9 to feed containers tothe worm 10.

At the same time pressure in the trip line 60 is reduced and valve 20will move under pressure of its bias spring 74 to its 0 position, thusto exhaust air pressure at the right side of the piston 57 in the aircylinder 22 and to admit pressure to the left side of the piston 57through the pressure regulator valve 21 and to shift the variable speeddrive into its max or high speed position. This high speed operationwill continue even though the supply of containers on the accumulationtable 7 is depleted to the point where sensor switch 11 is deactuated.As before noted, holding contact 61 for the relay 27 will continueenergization of the relay 27 under these circumstances.

In the event that the supply of containers is at such a reduced ratethat there is no longer sufiicient build-up to maintain actuatingpressure on sensor switch 12, this switch will also open, thus breakingthe holding or interlock circuit trough contact 61 to the relay 26, thusopening both contacts 61, 62. This will de-energize the electromagnetfor the valve 24 and move the valve to its 0 position in which thecylinder 54 of the container stop 15 will again be pressurized toactuate the container stop 53 and block further feed of containers tothe worm 10. Trip line 60 will be pressurized to transport valve 20 toits E position in which the cylinder 22 will shift the variable speeddrive to it min or low speed position.

As is also described in said copending patent application, actuation ofsensor switch 13 by back-up of containers at the output of the machinewill have the same effect by breaking the circuit to the relay 27, hencestopping feed of containers to the machine and reducing its speed to itslowest setting. The physical distance between switch 13 and the machine1 must be great enough to store all of the containers which areconcurrently in process in the labeling machine after switch 13 isactuated.

Control valve 16 has a third position F in which the container stop 15is actuated directly from source 17 through the double return valve 25,regardless of the position of control valve 24 and hence regardless ofthe status of sensor switches 11, 12, 13. Pressurization of the cylinder54 for the container stop 15 will automatically throw valve 20 to its Eposition via the trip line 60, thus shifting the variable speed drive toits minimum or lowest setting.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an infinitely variableautomatic speed adjustment can be achieved in a very simple manner. Thecontrol handle 59 of the pressure reducing valve 19 can be activated bythe feeler of sensor switch 11 in such a way that with valve 20 in its 0position, increased deflection of the feeler will regulate valve 19 sothat the pressure of air passed through valve 19 to the cylinder 22 willincrease, thus increasing the throw of piston 57 toward its maximumposition, and correspondingly increasing the speed of operation of themachine 1. The feeler of sensor switch 11 is provided with a spring 68.The balance between the physical pressure of the containers on thefeeler, as compared to the opposing pressure of the spring 68, willautomatically adjust the position of the pressure regulating valve 19.In lieu of a mechanical connection between the feeler of the switch 11and the control handle 59 of pressure regulating valve 19, anelectrically responsive coupling can be provided.

Another modification of the control mechanism is sown in FIG. 3. Therelationship between the labeling machine 1 and the sensors 11, 12, 13is substantially the same as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment,however, the position of the variable width pulleys 3 and 5 are reversedwith respect to motor 2 and gear box 6, as compared to FIG. 1. Thus theair cylinder 29 is connected to a variable width pulley 3 connecteddirectly on the shaft of the reduction gear set 6. While cylinder 22 ofFIG. 1 is double acting, cylinder 29 is single acting and has a spring58 biasing it toward maximum position. In this embodiment speed may alsobe controlled manually by a mechanism 28 which has a pinion gear andtoothed rack connection, as disclosed in copending patent applicationSer. No. 846,077 aforesaid.

In the manual position H of the valve 16, air is vented from all airlines and the automtic speed adjusting control mechanism is inoperative.The piston 56 of the air cylinder 54- for the container stop 15 and thepiston of the air cylinder 29 for variable speed drive are pressed bytheir springs 55, 58 into positions where the container stop iswithdrawn from blocking position and the machine runs at maximum speed,subject only to speed adjustment established by the manual controldevice 28. To advance the stop 15 to its container blocking position themanually operated control valve 16 can be moved to its F position, thusto admit air into cylinder 54 through the double return valve 30 and thespeed adjusting valve 26. Concurrently, cylinder 29 will be pressurizedthrough double return valves 30 and 31 and a speed adjusted valve 32,thus to decrease labeling machine speed to the minimum value.

To operate the embodiment of FIG. 3 automatically, the manually operatedcontrol valve 16 is shifted to its A position. In this embodiment sensorswitch 11 is given reference character 11', as it has a second contact75-, for purposes hereinafter mentioned. In the event sensors 11' and 12at the machines input are not actuated, the double return valve 30 willbe supplied with pressure through a magnetic control valve 34 in its 0position. Valve 34 is normally biased to position by spring 76. Thisresults in pressurizing the air cylinder 54 of the container stop 15 andalso in decreasing the speed of the machine to the minimum bypressurizing air cylinder 29.

As soon as there is an accumulation of containers adjacent the sensorswitch 12 in sufficient quantity to cause lateral displacement of thecontainers and actuate the sensor switch 12, a circuit will be closedthrough contact 75 of sensor switch 11 to actuate the electromagnet 77of valve 33, to move it against the bias of spring 78 to its E position.Movement of the valve 33 to its E position has no immediate affect onthe control device, because air cylinders 29 and 54 are alreadypressurized through control valve 34 in its 0 position. However, asecond sup ply of pressurized air is furnished to air cylinders 54 and29 from source 17 through valve 33 in its E position and double returnvalve 31.

During continued feeding of containers to the accumulation conveyor ortable 7, sensor switch 11' will ultimately be actuated, thus energingrelay 27 and closing its contacts 61, 62 and energizing theelectromagnetic actuator 81 for control valve 34 to move it against thebias of spring 76 and into position E. With control valve 34 in positionE, it will vent air pressure through double return valve 30 fromcylinder 54 of the container stop 15 and from cylinder 29 for thevariable speed control. This concurrently opens the container stop 15,admits containers to the worm and permits the spring 58 in the cylinder29 to shift the variable speed drive to its maximum speed condition, orto that speed setting previously set by the manual control device 28.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the closure of contact 61 functions asan interlock to hold the relay 27 closed, regardless of the subsequentstatus of the sensor switch 11. However, the actuation of sensor switch11' has Opened contact 75, thus to de-energize electromagnet 77 forcontrol valve 33, permitting valve 33 to be restored by spring 78 to its0 position. This has no effect as the check in valve 31 prevents ventingof air through valve 33 in its 0 position. If pressure on sensor switch11 is reduced, thus to again close contact 75, control valve 33 moves toits E position. Acocrdingly, a new path of pressurized air from source17 to cylinder 29 is provided through valve 33, double return valve 31and control valve 32, to reduce the speed of the machine, even thoughthe container stop is withdrawn from blocking position. This reducedspeed enhances the possibility that the containers will build up evenwhen the container stop is withdrawn from container blocking position.When build-up has occurred to the point where switch 11 is againactivated, contact 75 will be opened, thus moving valve 33 to its 0position, thus relieving cylinder 29 of air pressure and switching thevariable speed transmission to high speed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 and 7-14, inclusive, show modified embodiment of theinvention in which the labeling machine 35 has control mechanismfeaturing an even greater number of sensor switches. Two of these, b andb are mounted along the oblique rail 52 on the accumulation conveyor ortable 7 in spaced relation one to another and two additional sensorswitches b and b; are mounted along the conveyor 9, also in mutuallyspaced physical relation. In this embodiment each such sensor switch isso arranged in the electrical control circuit that it is associated witha specific speed of machine operation, thus to achieve very fine controlover machine speed in relationship to the degree of accumulation ofcontainers at the machine input.

As in the previously described embodiments, there is another sensorswitch b at the output of the machine and which reponds to a back-up ofcontainers at the machine output.

In this embodiment there are also three label magazine control swtiches36I, 36H and 36III adjacent the worm 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Details ofswitch mounting is shown in FIG. 6.

Each of the three switches 361, 3611 and 36111 is associated with acorresponding pneumatic valve 631, 6311 and 63II (top right hand cornerof PG. 5), each of which controls a corresponding pneumatic cylinder381, 38H and 38111. The said pneumatic cylinders are respectivelycoupled to respective label feed magazines 371, 3711, 37III shown inFIG. 4. The pneumatic cylinders 38I-III function in a known manner toadvance and retract the label cylinders 47I-III in accordance with theresponse of the switches 36II-III to containers in the worm 10.Ordinarily, if a container is not at its designated position in the worm10, the corresponding label magazine 37 is withdrawn, to avoid feeding alabel for an absent container.

In accordance with the present invention, the switches 36I-III aremounted as shown in FIG. 6 for unitary physical movement under theinfluence of pneumatic cylinder 39. Cylinder 39 and springs 41, 82 coactto actuate a switch control rod 40 to selectively press cams 64 againstthe switch bodies to condition them either for individual actuation bycontainers or concurrent continuous actuation independently of thecontainers. When air cylinder 39 is under pressure the label releaseswitches 36I-III are swung into a position where their feelers projectinto the paths of containers on the conveyor 9. In this condition eachfeeler is actuated independently of the other feelers by the pressure ofa particular container and will send an appropriate signal through itsvalves 63I-III and pneumatic cylinders 38I-III to the respective labelmagazine 37I-III, whereby the respective magazine will be advanced totransfer a label to the rotating turret 65 of the label machine forappropriate transfer in due course to the appropriate container.

However, when air pressure is removed from the cylinder 39, spring 41will thrust the rod 40 and cams 64 to the right in FIG. 6. This swingsall of the feelers 36I-III out of the path of the containers on conveyor9. At the same time, each switch is actuated so that all of themagazines 37 will automatically transfer labels to the drum 65 Withoutneed for individual actuation of the feelers 361-111 by the individualcontainers. This is an advantageous arrangement because air is removedfrom cylinder 39 only when there is an ample supply of containers on theconveyor 9, thus making independent actuation of switches 36I-IIIunnecessary and removing redundancy from the machine.

As aforesaid, the respective switches b -b inclusive, are adapted in theembodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, to provide a separate and distinct speedsetting of the variable speed drive for each of four different levels ofcontainer accumulation at the machine input. This is accomplishedthrough a four-position, double piston cylinder 42 by which the variablespeed drive is set. The rod 66 of one piston 83 is connected to thevariable speed pulley of the variable speed drive. The rod of the otherpiston 84 1s fixed. Each of pistons 83, 84 is in a double actingcylinder having a common cylinder wall. Accordingly, approprlatepressurization and depressurization of the respective cylinder chambersat the sides of pistons 83, 84 will sequentially position the piston rod66 in one or another of its four positions A, B, C, D, as indicated inFIG. 5. Position A is for minimum speed. Position D is for maximumspeed. Positions B and C are intermediate speed positions.

As in the prior embodiments, there is a manually 0perated control valve16 from which pneumatic lines lead to the cylinder 54 for the containerstop 15 and through the appropriate passages of control valves s and sto the appropriate chambers in the four-position cylinder 42.

In manual position H of valve 16, these lines are all without pressureso that the container stop 15 will open under the pressure of its spring55 and the speed of operation of the variable speed control in themachine will be adjusted manually, for instance by a manual controllersuch as 28 of FIG. 3 or a pressure regulator such as 19 of FIG. 2.

In the H position of valve 16 cylinder 39 is under pressure of line 67which is connected to the pressure source 17 ahead of the valve 16.Accordingly, the label release switches 36I-III are free to be actuatedindividually by the containers on the conveyor 9. Line 67 alsopressurizes each of the cylinders 38I-III, as controlled by valves63I-III, so that the label magazines 37IIII assume positions controlledin exact accordance with the condition of the switches 36I-III. Pressureof containers on the sensor switches b b has no effect because therelevant lines controlled by these switches are without pressure.

In position F of the valve 16 the cylinder 54 for container stop 15 willbe under pressure to advance the stop into container blocking position,through the double return valve 44.

In the automatic position A of valve 16, container stop 15 will becontrolled through the electromagnetically actuated valve s If valve .9is in its position to which it is biased by spring 86, air pressure isexerted through the double return valve 44 on air cylinder 54 and thecontainer stop 15 will block container infeed to the machine. Valve S3will be in its 0 position if none of switches b -b inclusive, areactuated. Under this condition air operated valve 46 will be actuated bymeans of a pneumatic trip line 45 to move it to its E position in whichthe pneumatic lines leading to the four-position cylinder 42 throughvalves s and s are without pressure.

Pneumatic trip line 47 is concurrently under pressure but this pressurewill be interrupted by the electromagnetic valve s being in position Bbecause normally closed contact d is closed. Accordingly, air operatedvalve 43 Will be in position 0, whereby air cylinder 39 remains underpressure and the label release switches 36I-III are positioned forindependent actuation by containers on conveyor 9.

The container stop 15 is opened only when all of the four switches 11-17 at the machines infeed are actuated by a build-up of containers. Asthe respective sensor switches b b are closed the corresponding relays ddl; are correspondingly operated to close the normally open relaycontacts d ab. When all of the contacts d -d are closed, the relay dwill be actuated to concurrently actuate its corresponding contacts dand hence actuate the electromagnetically operated control valve s andshift it to its position E, whereby air is exhausted from the cylinder54 of the container stop 15. This withdraws the stop 15 from the path ofthe containers.

At the same time, pneumatic trip line 45 is deprived of air pressure sothat the valve 36 is switched by its spring 87 to its 0 position,thereby to affect the pressure imposed upon the chambers of air cylinder42, depending upon the respective positions of switches s and s Underthe conditions just stated, with the sensors b -b all actuated andnormally open contacts d d all closed, the electromagnetically actuatedvalves s and s are in their positions E. This results in pressurizationof the chambers of the double piston cylinder 42 to extend piston 66 toits maximum setting D and operate the variable speed drive at fullspeed.

Because of the operation of the normally closed contact d theelectromagnetic valve s is at the same time moved by its spring 90 intoposition 0 so that the air operated valve 43 is moved to its E positionthrough the pneumatic trip line 47. Air cylinder 39 is now underpressure via valve 48 in is 0 position and the valve 43 in its Eposition. Accordingly, label release switches 36I- III remain in theirextended positions after container stop 15 withdraws. However, whenvalve 48 shifts to its E position via a pneumatic trip line 49, onactuation of the third switch 36III, this switch being closest to thepoint of labeling, air is exhausted from cylinder 39 via the valves 43and 48, whereby all label release switches 36I- III are retracted bysprings 41, 82 and the switches 36I-III are concurrently closed asaforestated. This is appropriate as the input including worm 10 is nowfilled with containers and independent response of the switches 361- IIIis no longer necessary.

In the event that sensor switches b -b individually and sequentiallyopen, due to a decrease in build-up of containers and hence insufiicientintercontainer pressure to cause lateral dislocation of the containersadjacent said switches, container stop 15 will remain withdrawn becausesensor switch b remains closed. Moreover, as the contacts al -d in theline to relay d open, relay d is not afiected because of the interlockor holding contact d which bypasses these contacts. However,notwithstanding the foregoing, the variable speed drive for the labelingmachine will be driven at different speeds, each speed being associatedspecifically with the respective sensor switches 19 -12 For example, ifonly switch b and thereby relay d with its contacts d is actuated, themachine 35 and conveyor 9 will run at low speed because theelectromagnets of valves s and s are now de-energized and the valves aremoved by their springs 91, 92 to their 0 position. This results in bothpistons 83, 84 of the cylinder 42 being withdrawn to position A at whichthe machine runs at minimum speed. This allows the accumulation ofcontainers to build up.

When switch b is next actuated, sensor switch b, being already closed,the circuit to the electromagnet of valve s will close and move thisvalve to its E position. Thus piston 83 will move piston rod 66 to itslow intermediate B position so the machine will operate at lowintermediate speed.

If container build-up continues to the point where sensor switch b isnow actuated, the electric circuit to valve s will be interrupted by theopening of the normally closed contact d thus to de-energize theelectromagnet of valve s and permit its spring 91 to move valve s to its0 position. At the same time the electric circuit to the valve s isclosed, thus to move valve s to its E position, whereupon the piston 83of the cylinder 42 will be withdrawn and the piston 85 of cylinder 42will be extended, thus moving piston rod 66 to its high intermediatespeed position C.

Upon still further build-up of containers to the extent at which sensorswitch b is also actuated, the circuit for the magnetic valve s willagain be closed, whereby the piston 83 of cylinder 42 will also extendand the piston rod 66 will reach its maximum setting at D for maximumspeed of machine operation.

The converse sequence occurs when the acumulation of containersdecreases. Sensor switches 12 -12 will sequentially open, to operate themachine at progressively lower speeds. Thus the control apparatusprovides a sensitive relation between the rate of container arrival atthe machine input and its speed of operation. The control apparatusfunctions as a governor to operate the machine at a speed most nearlymatching the speed of container arrival.

In the event the rate of container arrival drops so low that sensorswitch 1).; opens, the circuits to the electromagnets of both valves s swill open and the valves will be moved by their springs 91, 92 to their0 positions. This will result in pressurizing the chambers of cylinder42 to retract both pistons 83, 84 in air cylinder 42 and withdraw thepiston rod 66 to its minimum position A for low speed operation of themachine. At the same time, the electromagnet for valve s will bede-energized to permit spring 86 to move valve s to its 0 position,whereupon air will be admitted to the chamber 54 of container stop 15and advance the stop to container blocking position. At the same time,the circuit for the electromagnet of valve s Will be closed to movevalve .9 to its E position and vent air from trip line 47. Accordingly,valve 43 will move to its E position to pressurize air cylinder 39.Cylinder 39 projects the label release switches 36I-IH into the path ofcontainers on conveyor 9 and the following series of labels applied tosuch containers as enter the machine thereafter will be releasedindividually.

In the event of a back-up of containers at the machine output, sensorswitch b will be actuated and the control circuit for the valves s swill be interrupted, thereby allowing these valves to be moved by theirsprings 91, 92, 86 to their 0 position, adjusting air cylinder 42 forminimum speed and projecting container stop 15 into container blockingposition. At the same time, the circuit for the electromagnetic valve .9will be closed and as aforedescribed cylinder 39 will be energized forindividual actuation of the label release switches 36I-III.

FIGS. 7 through 14 illustrate various conditions of the accumulation ofcontainers on the accumulation table 7 and conveyor 9. The apparatusshown in FIGS. 7 through 14 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.FIG. 7 illustrates the condition in which a few containers are arrivingon table 7, but there has been insufficient accumulation to actuate anyof the sensor switches b b Accordingly, stop 15 is in its containerblocking position and the variable speed drive operates at low speed.

FIG. 8 illustrates the condition in which a sufficient number ofcontainers 50 have accumulated behind the container stop 15 to causelateral displacement of the containers adjacent sensor 12 and actuatethis switch. However, there has been an insutlicient accumulation toreach sensor switches [v -b Accordingly, stop 15 remains in containerblocking position. The variable speed drive operates at a low setting,corresponding to position A of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 illustrates the condition in which there has been a furtheraccumulation of containers, sufficient to cause lateral displacement ofthe containers 50 adjacent a both switches b and b.,, but insuflicientto actuate sensor switches b and b Stop 15 remains in container blockingposition. The variable speed drive operates at low intermediate speed,corresponding to position B of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 illustrates the condition of maximum container build-upsufficient to completely fill the accumulation table 7 and causesufiicient intercontainer pressure to cause lateral displacement of thecontainers 50 adjacent both switches [1 and b and to also actuate sensorswitches b and b Switches b and 12 are subject to lateral pressure ofthe containers not only because of the tendency of these containers tomove laterally because of the intercontainer pressure developedtherebetween, but also because the respective independent lanes of themultilane conveyor 7 are moving in the direction of arrow 93, thusphysically thrusting the containers obliquely against the feelers ofswitches b and b The actuation of all switches b b inclusive, results inthe withdrawal of stop from container blocking position and operates thevariable speed drive into its maximum speed position, corresponding toposition D of piston rod 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 illustrates the condition in which the machine is operating at aspeed high enough to remove containers from the accumulation table 7 ata rate faster than they arrive thereon. Sensor switch 12 is relieved ofcontainer pressure and will open, thus reducing the speed of the machine35 and the conveyor 9 to the high intermediate setting corresponding toposition C of the piston rod 66 in FIG. 5. Container stop 15 remains inwithdrawn position.

FIG. 12 illustrates the condition in which a still further slowing ofthe supply of containers 50 to the table 7 results in opening of sensorswitches [1 b and [2 although switch b, remains closed. This reduces thespeed of the machine 35 and the conveyor 9 to the low speedcorresponding to position A of the piston rod 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 illustrates a condition in which the supply of containers 50 inthe table 7 and conveyor 9 has been so reduced as to open all of sensorswitches b -b inclusive. While containers are adjacent sensor switchb.,, there is insufficient intercontainer pressure to cause lateraldisplacement of the containers and actuate the feeler of switch bAccordingly, all switches b -b are open, the container stop 15 moves toits blocking position and the variable speed drive operates at minimumspeed. The movement of stop 15 to blocking position was executed whilethe variable speed drive was operating at low speed, thus to interruptcontainer movement with minimum possibility of container shock, fallsand breakage.

FIG. 14 illustrates the condition in which the table 7 and conveyor 9are completely filled with containers at the machine input, but in whichthere is a back-up of containers at the output, sufficient to actuatesensor switch b thus advancing stop 15 to its container blockingposition and reducing the speed of the variable speed drive to itslowest setting. In this condition the machine 35 continues to operate,in order to complete the processing of containers already in themachine. The spacing of sensor switch b from the machine 35 must besulficient to provide for storage of all such processed containers 50 inthe space between switch b and the output star wheel of the machine.

It is also possible to arrange additional switches at the machinesoutput which will progressively decrease the speed of the machine in theevent of a back-up, independently from the switches b b at the infeed ofthe machine.

Various further modifications are within the invention. For example, theciricuit can be arranged to withdraw the container stop 15 from blockingposition when sensor switches b and b, are actuated and sensor switchesb and I); are only effective to make speed changes. Thus the stop 15 iscontrolled only by switches b and 1),, but speed control is effectuatedby all four switches b b inclusive. Moreover, switches b and b could bearranged on the conveyor 9, instead of on the collector 7. The controlof the label release magazines 37I-III can be elfectuated by specificmechanism different from that herein disclosed. For example, theswitches 17 -17 can control the label release with vacuum by blockingthe vacuum on machines working on the vacuum transfer pallet principle,in a manner known, per se.

The present invention affords important advantages related to improvedoperation of the machine. These include the fact that the machine willprocess containers having different diameters, without need foradjustment of the control mechanism. Accordingly, the switches b b., canbe arranged at any desired spacing. They need not be adjusted in anyparticular relation to the diameter of the specific containers beinglabeled.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate the manner in which the sensor switchesoperate. In these figures the container stop 15 and the closest sensorswitch 12 (or b.;) are illustrated. The sensor switch feeler is offsetphysically from the path of the containers 50 so as not to be affectedin any way by the condition of the containers shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.In FIG. 15 the containers arrive intermittently and in spaced relationand are incapable of actuating the sensor switch 12. In FIG. 16 thecontainers 50 form a solid column but still have no affect upon theposition of switch 12. This is because switch 12 reacts only to lateralpressure.

FIG. 17 illustrates the condition under which the containers willactuate the switch 12, namely, a build-up of a sufficient number ofcontainers to exert sufiicient intercontainer pressure to cause lateraldislocation of the containers in the vicinity of switch 12. This lateraldislocation exerts lateral pressure on the switch feeler 12 to actuateit from its broken line to its full line position shown in FIG. 17.

As illustrated, the conveyor table 7 desirably comprises multi-laneconveyors which independently bring containers to the machine input. SeeFIG. 9. The various 13 lanes may originate at different sources, thusaccounting for the inconstant supply of containers, depending on thestatus of the machines which supply the respective lanes. The apparatusof the present invention smooths out the operation of the commonlabeler, not-withstanding this inconstant supply of containers thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, alabel applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop atthe container input, container sensing means at the container input andcontrol mechanism subject to said container sensing means forcontrolling said stop and said variable speed drive, the improvement inwhich said container sensing means comprises first and second sensorsphysically spaced along said container input, said control mechanismcomprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors tocause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variablespeed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers haveaccumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, saidsensors comprising container feelers which are responsive only tolateral pressure, whereby to be actuated only by an accumulation ofcontainers which causes lateral dislocation of the containers againstthe sensor feelers.

2. The labeling machine of claim 1 in which said container sensing meansfurther comprises a third such sensor physically spaced along saidcontainer input from said second sensor, said control mechanismcomprising means to cause the container stop to stop containers and tocause the variable speed drive to operate at low speed until enoughcontainers have accumulated on the container input to actuate all threesensors.

3. The labeling machine of claim 1 in which said container sensing meansfurther comprises a third such sensor physically spaced along saidcontainer input from said second sensor, said control mechanismcomprising means to cause the variable speed drive to operate at onespeed when one sensor is actuated, at another speed when another sensoris actuated, and at still another speed when the third sensor isactuated.

4. The labeling machine of claim 3 in which said container sensing meansfurther comprises a fourth such sensor physically spaced along saidcontainer input from the third sensor, said control mechanism comprisingmeans to cause the variable speed drive to operate at still anotherspeed when the fourth sensor is actuated.

5. In a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, alabel applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop atthe container input, container sensing means at the container input andcontrol mechanism subject to said container sensing means forcontrolling said stop and said variable speed drive, the improvement inwhich said container sensing means comprises first and second sensorsphysically spaced along said container input, said control mechanismcomprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors tocause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variablespeed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers haveaccumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, a labelsupply magazine, a container feeler at the machine input and means forretracting and advancing said magazine in response to containeractuation of said feeler to insure against label feed to an absentcontainer, the further improvement of means to defeat the action of saidfeeler and automatically supply labels when both said sensors areactuated.

6. The labeling machine of claim 5 in which said feeler is associatedwith a label separating worm at the machine input.

7. In a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, alabel applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop atthe container input, container sensing means at the container input andcontrol mechanism subject to said container sensing means forcontrolling said stop and said variable speed drive, the improvement inwhich said container sensing means comprises first and second sensorsphysically spaced along said container input, said control mechanismcomprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors tocause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variablespeed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers haveaccumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, a labelsupply magazine, a container feeler at the machine input and means forretracting and advancing said magazine in response to containeractuation of said feeler to insure against label feed to an absentcontainer, the further improvement of means to defeat the action of saidfeeler and automatically supply labels as long as the container stop iswithdrawn.

8. The labeling machine of claim 5 in which there are a plurality ofsuch label supply magazines and a corresponding plurality of suchcontainer feelers at the machine input, the last mentioned meanscomprising means for concurrently actuating said feelers.

9. In a labeling machine having a container input, a container output, alabel applying mechanism, a variable speed drive, a container stop atthe container input, container sensing means at the container input andcontrol mechanism subject to said container sensing means forcontrolling said stop and said variable speed drive, the improvement inwhich said container sensing means comprises first and second sensorsphysically spaced along said container input, said control mechanismcomprising means responsive to both said first and second sensors tocause the container stop to stop containers and to cause the variablespeed drive to operate at low speed until enough containers haveaccumulated on the container input to actuate both said sensors, saidcontainer input comprising an accumulation table on which a large numberof containers can be stored in side-by-side relation, a rail againstwhich said containers collect, at least one of said sensors beingdisposed along said rail whereby to be actuated in response to theaccumulation of enough containers on the table to physically pressagainst said sensor.

10. The labeling machine of claim 9 in which said rail is arrangedobliquely to the path of arrival of said container on the table.

11. The labeling machine of claim 9 in which said accumulation tablecomprises a multi-lane conveyor which feeds containers toward said rail.

12. The labeling machine of claim 11 in which the respective lanes ofsaid multi-lane conveyor are independently driven.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1971 Kronseder 156-351 10/1963Carter 15636'3 U.S. Cl. X.R. 15 6-3 5 2 K

